Ben Simmons shows what's wrong with college before NBA

Also not sure how Howard is the eureka moment for let’s stay in school. The guy made 3rd team NBA in what would have been his Junior year in college and was first team NBA during his senior year in college and 5th in MVP voting whilst anchoring. He also won 3 defensive MVPs in what would have been his first three seasons in the pros. When was the last time a player in his rookie year won a defensive MVP straight out of 4 years in college (and was 4th in MVP voting, led the league in blocks, boards etc) He was actually a leader on that team, which would have been his rookie year, and sure a few years he threw his team and front office under the bus but that was entirely in a move that showed he understood one man alone can’t win a title. It beggars belief to think that playing 4 years at Georgia Tech would have given him more appreciation for his team mates, given he’d be playing with players far less talented than himself, or made him more humble having been the big man on campus and using the huge disparity in physical gifts to dominate opponents. Personally I don’t know a single person who looks back at college/uni and says hey they held me accountable to a far higher standard than my workplace. The problem isn’t that they don’t have 4 years of college it is that they are outliers that are idolised and put on a pedestal from a very young age.

Not sure how this holds Simmons in good stead. He’s been hammered at every turn for trusting his team mates by scouts and the media. He’s top 10 in the SEC for every advanced stat other than BLK%, TO% and USG%. It’s tough to see what this experience has taught him other than he is on another level to the team mates that are keeping the team record at 16-9 despite his otherworldly play. Yes it has taught him team mates are important, but only from the perspective that he’s so bloody good and yet his team is on the bubble for the tourney. I remember an anecdote someone had from Magic about Rubio saying he’ll be much better in the NBA because his team mates aren’t good enough in Europe to use his abilities – that is definitely the case in Baton Rouge.

Not sure how you could say “if anything it helps him” he was the consensus #1 pick - college can only offer an opportunity to hurt him. Every bit of analysis suggests that playing in the NBA makes you a better NBA player than playing in College with every model I’ve seen for career projections of an incoming draftee factoring in age. I mean it is commons sense. If I told you there were two ways of preparing yourself for a career: Option A gives you less than half the amount of time learning and deploying those career skills as option B. Option A will pit you in situations and against competitors, and with supporting team mates, largely inferior to those you will see in your long term career where as option B will literally put you in the exact environment you need to perform in over the long term. The parties surrounding you in option A only have an interest in your ability to succeed against the inferior competition and no participation in your eventual success, the parties in option B will be heavily incentivised to see that you fulfill your long term potential. Does anyone go hey the less time against inferior position with guys that have no vested interest in my development are the right choice? The NBA already has a screening process for determining if you can play in the NBA, it’s called the draft. Every year teams using their freedom of choice pick a few guys that they believe could be NBA players. And If the college experience was so additive to the ability to being an NBA player it wouldn’t be listed under the negatives of every upper classman that declares for the draft. I agree with paying the players – because they deliver a commercial return that is simply taken from them and then given to others – but I don’t agree that in and of itself should keep them in college if NBA team would be willing to have them play.

It’s a misleading argument. For starters these guys aren’t actually graduating under scholarship. The majority of players are one and done or two and done players so they aren’t getting a degree. Even lets say we’ve got 18 year olds skipping college again – that kid gets a minimum guaranteed contract of around US$5m if he’s a mid first rounder and gets injured. Now if the college guy get injured during the same mileage (even though you’ve got teams less vested in your future) – no nba. What stops the kid that was injured now just paying his own way through college? Unless you believe he’s got some fundamental learning issues (in which case the college degree isn’t going paper over them) the kid’s got some options he didn’t previously have. Sure he will be 1-2 years “behind” (gap year anyone?) the alternative him but with a 1 to 3m dollar head start. If he can't make that work not sure how capable he was of getting an education to begin with.

I have nothing against a college education if people choose to get an education and nothing against guys cleaning windows for a living.

I used to love the NCAA back when the Fab 5 were taking on Duke and NC... But it's a shameful relic. Coaches, schools, broadcasters make millions and the players get nothing.. And that's enforced to the extreme. The D-League should take over the one and done guys. Raise the pay so it's worth it for the likes of Simmons, Murray and Ingram to play there. The rules and systems are identical to the NBA and players will learn how to be a professional on and off the court. It's wrong to say to a young guy who's clearly better than his peers that he has to play for a millionaire coach for free or go overseas. Also the NCAA is a clogged snoozefest... Someone like Buddy Hield has thrived there so it has it's place. But not for the top half dozen or so talents

Eddie... so what happens after they retire, forced or otherwise, from playing in the NBA? An education might just come into play then eh?!?

Thanks for this first up article Simon... an enjoyable read. And yeah it's quiet exciting to have someone of the calibre of Ben Simmons creating all the justifiable hype that follows him everywhere. I've been following College ball since we used to get telecasts of Patty Mills playing for the SMC Gaels. Then he was quickly followed by Delli at the same, as well as many others from Aussie who were here and there. I have no problem with Ben playing at LSU. I think it's good that he's there, and as astro says above it's got a long distinguish history. Pretty sure Shaq came from LSU as well. This LSU team, and having watched every game this season, aren't a bad team. It's just that their young and learning to play as a team. And this will hold Ben in good stead for his future. You can all the talent in the world but if you can't get your team-mates involved then it ain't gonna work for the team. Dwight Howard presently comes to mind at Houston. And lastly I totally agree with Sir Charles... get rid of the 'one and done' and keep 'em in College. It only happens once in your life.

Some pro sportsmen start to deteriorate physically from about 28 years of age whereas others can keep playing into their 30s. I think it's ridiculous to force all people to wait till around 23yo till they can play at the highest level and make some serious money. A forced 5 year nba window for some players is crazy hence these guys considering other countries and leagues. I'm watching college games with some balding, greying 260lb men with full beards playing and the thought of them not making a living from basketball at their stage in life seems crazy as it is. If they're ready then let them play.

or they will go to europe or asia to play instead of college. College sports are an antiquated relic

It's interesting you choose to compare Simmons to Durant. Durant's year in Texas was hardly any more beneficial to his NBA career, as Simmons' year at LSU will likely be. Texas went 25-10 with Durant, and were bumped in the second round of the tournament. Hard to say that experience made any difference to Durant in the long run. There's also a good chance LSU make the tourny this year, anyway. LSU is a college with a great history and very good track record, and while they might not be Duke or Kentucky in terms of profile, its a perfectly fine college for Simmons to learn the game for a year before the NBA. It certainly didn't hold Shaq back, and he played played alongside a group with no future NBA players, just a great coach in Dale Brown, under whom Simmons' current coach (Jimmy Jones) was an assistant. So, I've no problem with Simmons' playing at LSU. If anything, it helps him. The year in college is now not much more than a chance to show what you can do prior to the NBA, and LSU is certainly giving Simmons a chance to shine. As for college guys staying in college, I agree they should be encouraged to stay, but that depends entirely on paying college players. Under the current model, players loose too much money staying in college, risk injury and/or slipping down the draft order.